A man charged with fatally shooting his ex-girlfriend Tuesday morning in Newark had been arrested twice recently on domestic violence charges involving the same victim and released from custody pending trial, according to court records.

"What happened this morning is a sobering example of why the flaws in bail reform must be fixed," Baraka said.

Kareem Dawson, jail photo

Dawson, 31, of Irvington, shot himself as Newark police officers chased him into Summit after spotting a vehicle they suspected was connected to the shooting death of Wilson, 28, of Newark.

Wilson was killed at about 8:20 a.m. on Scheerer Avenue, authorities said.

Dawson, who has since been charged with murder, was rushed to Morristown Medical Center for treatment. His condition Tuesday evening was unknown.

Superior Court records, however, show that Dawson was first charged in October with aggravated assault in a domestic violence case in which Wilson was the victim, but that a judge declined the Essex County Prosecutor's Office's motion for pre-trial detention.

Records show that in December, Superior Court Judge Peter Ryan again declined to keep Dawson jailed following his arrest on a weapons charge in another alleged domestic violence incident at the Maplewood daycare attended by his and Wilson's children.

"We can't go on losing lives like this," Baraka said in his statement. "In the wake of this murder, I am calling for all parties involved in criminal justice in Newark and Essex County: legislators, police, prosecutors, and judges to come together and collaborate to review criminal justice reform.

"Together," the mayor said, "we need to look at the downgrading of charges by prosecutors, especially in cases of domestic violence, and to fix the serious flaws in bail reform."

Baraka, whose own sister was killed in an act of domestic violence, said he was "deeply moved" by Dawson's killing and "determined to do everything possible to prevent these senseless killings."